System for operating miniature vehicles

ABSTRACT

A system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a roadbed having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator as the vehicles are transferred freely from one lane to another. A propulsion motor is mounted on the vehicle body by means providing limited fore and aft movement thereof relative to the vehicle body to effectively operate front steering wheels of the vehicle automatically in response to forward movement of the motor in response to the momentum of the vehicle when the current to the motor is suddenly cut. The motor is forced forwardly through a gear train connecting the motor to driving wheels of the vehicle due to the momentum of the vehicle when the current thereto is cut.

[ Nov. 27, 1973 SYSTEM FOR OPERATING MINIATURE VEHICLES [75] Inventors: Gordon A. Barlow; Norman Kramer, both of Skokie, Ill.; Derek I Albert Brand; Alexander Imatt, both of Camarillo, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: June 19, 1972 21 Appl. No.2 263,985

Primary Examiner--Louis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Att0rneyJames F. Coffee et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a roadbed having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator as the vehicles are transferred freely from one lane to another. A propulsion motor is mounted on the vehicle body by means providing limited fore [52] US. Cl 46/244 A 51 Int. Cl A63h 33/26 and aft movement thereof lame the vehlcle [58] Field 6: Search 46/243 R 244 R to effectively Operate from Steering wheels of the vehi- 46/244 A cle automatically in response to forward movement of the motor in response to the momentum of the vehicle [56] References Cited when the current to the motor is suddenly cut. The

motor is forced forwardly through a gear train con- UNITED STATES PATENTS nectin the motor to drivin wheels of the vehicle due g g 3,239,963 3/ 1966 Smith et a] 46/244 R to the momentum of the vehicle when the current thereto is cut.

23 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 4 22a 1 f r 1 nm 58 56 we Um Quill]; i I

" Elm 40 Patented Nov. 27, 1973 3,774,340

4 Sheets Sheet 1 Patented Nov. 27, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 SYSTEM FOR OPERATING MINIATURE VEHICLES BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a system for simulating realistically in a toy, and through means of remote control,

characteristics of the travel performance of actual road vehicles represented by miniature travelling replicas of the vehicles.

Model automobiles which are driven over toy tracks have become increasingly popular for some time, even more popular than electric trains operable over confining tracks. However, so many of the presently available road racing toys basically are merely extensions of the conventional electric train concept. The vehicles or systems therefor have become known as slot car systems wherein the model cars are constrained by virtue of slots and/or guides to a single dimensional or linear path. It is obvious that such a toy has limited realism in operation, since the only variable left for the operator is regulation of the speed of travel.

For realism in toys that simulate highway traffic, as differing from toys in the art of toy or model railroading, it is desirable that the miniature road vehicle be free to be steered arbitrarily at the will of the operator without confinement or guidance by upstanding track rails or by slots sunken in the roadbed to be travelled by the vehicle. Also for realism, the toy road vehicle should be steerable in a manner to turn out and pass one another along the route by crossing over from one traffic lane to another at the will of the operator while substantially continuously being propelled by current derived from the roadbed which is substantially flat throughout.

Attempts have been made to provide the operator with this second degree of freedom of operation provided by free steering of the vehicle. This invention is directed to providing a new and improved system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator. I

It is, therefore, ageneralobject of this invention to provide a toy of the character described, particularly such a toy which has more realistic operation and which includes an improved model vehicle movable over a three-dimensional substantially flat tread surface on a track.

The invention contemplates providing a roadbed travelled by the vehicle and having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting the vehicles to be transferred freely from one lane to another. Each vehicle includes a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel tumable about a generally vertical axis for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle from one lane to another. Movable biasing means is provided on the vehicle and is operatively associated with front steering wheels to urge the steering wheels toward a predetermined position to move the vehicle in a predetermined 1 the current conductive lanes. Actuating means is operatively associated with the biasing means and includes a mass mounted by means providing fore and aft movement thereof on and relative to the vehicle body to operate the biasing means automatically in response to forward movement of the mass relative to the vehicle body when the vehicle is slowed, whereby the steering wheel may be turned solely by cutting the current to the propulsion motor, through the current conductive lanes and vehicle current collectors.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the aforesaid mass comprises the propulsion motor itself slidably mounted on and for limited fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body. The actuating means comprises a forwardly facing dihedral surface on the front of the motor having rearwardly diverging surface portions and a rearwardly facing dihedral surface on the biasing means having forwardly diverging surface portions. Means is provided to shift the dihedral surface on the steering biasing means automatically in response to the vehicle being positioned in one or the other of the lanes to permit engagement of either diverging surface portions of each dihedral surface with that of the other and thereby provide for steering the vehicle in either transverse direction. The shifting means comprises lane bordering side walls along the outer edges of the outermost lanes and engageable with the steering wheel on the respective adjacent steering side of the vehicle to urge the steering wheel inwardly slightly, but sufiiciently to insure that the dihedral surfaces will initially engage in such a manner as to steer the vehicle only toward the opposite lane.

The propulsion motor is connected to the driving wheel of the vehicle by a gear train, including a pinion gear mounted for rotation with the driving wheel about a transverse axis and a worm gear in mesh with the pinion gear and connected to the motor for rotation thereby about a fore and aft axis. The propulsion motor therefor is forced forwardly, through the gear train, due to the momentum of the vehicle when the current is cut.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the chassis of a miniature vehicle made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, with a horizontal section through the left rear wheel thereof;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the chassis shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 33 of FIG; 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to that of FIG. I, with the propulsion motor moved forwardly of the vehicle in engagement with the biasing means for steering the front wheels of the vehicle;

FIG. 7 is a partially broken away, exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the connection between the right-hand front steering wheel and the steering biasing means;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the current collectors mounted on the underside of the vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a schematic, cross view through three types of tracks which may be utilized with vehicles as generally shown in FIGS. 1-8;

FIG. 10 shows a circuit diagram for remotely controlling a vehicle of the present invention through a six contact, two-lane track;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the track circuitry for the control circuit of FIG. 10, showing schematically the current collectors on a pair of individually operable vehicles;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view through the six contact, two-lane track of FIGS. 10 and 11;

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing the remote control means for utilizing a four contact, two-lane track; and

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of the electrical components on a pair of individually operable vehicles for use on the four contact, two-lane track of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a system according to the present invention for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator is shown. A miniature vehicle made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, and various tracks and control circuits for utilizing the miniature vehicles of FIGS. 1-8 are shown in FIGS. 10 through 14. The miniature vehicles first will be described.

Each miniature vehicle includes a chassis having a body or frame portion, generally designated 20, provided with a pair of surface engagingfront right and left steering wheels 22a and 22b, respectively, tumable about generally vertically axes 24 for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle. A pair of rear surface engaging driving wheels 26 are mounted for rotation with a rear axle 28 which is operatively connected through a gear train, generally designated 30, to an electrical current responsive propulsion motor 32 for rotating the rear driving wheels 26 to drive the vehicle forwardly. Biasing means, generally designated 34, is operatively connected to the steering wheels 22a, 22b to urge the steering wheels simultaneously toward predetermined right or left positions to move the vehicle in a predetermined right or left direction. a

The gear train 30 between the motor 32 and drive wheels 26 comprises a worm gear 36 common to the drive shaft of the motor 32 and rotatable thereby about a fore and aft axis, and a pinion gear 38 in mesh with the worm gear 36 and fixed to the rear axle 28 to drive the rear wheels 26 in response to actuation of the electric motor 32.

The steering wheel biasing means 34 which facilitates steering the front steering wheels 22a, 22b includes a cross brace 40 pivotally connected by identical means rigid with the steering wheels 22a, 22b. More particularly, opposite ends of the cross brace 40 has pivots at 42 for pivotal connection to yoke members 44 which are rigid with the steering wheels 22a, 22b but which are pivoted at 24 to the vehicle body or frame 20. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, each yoke 44 actually is pivoted on a lower cross member 46 which in turn is slidably mounted on the vehicle body or frame for limited transverse movement relative thereto. Thus, for purposes described hereinafter, not only is the cross brace pivotally movable, but the cross brace, yokes 44 and steering wheels 22a, 22b are movable as a unit transversely of the vehicle with the cross brace pivots remaining in line. Shoulder 46a (FIG. 7) on the cross member 46, and 46b (FIG. 4) on the frame 20 limit this transverse movement. Pivot pins (FIG. 4) [or bolts, not shown] are utilized to connect the parts at pivots 24 and 42. Thus, it is apparent that pivotal movement of the cross brace 40 to the right, relative to the vehicle, in thedirection of arrow A (FIG. 1) will move the front of the steering wheels 22a, 22b to the right of the vehitile (as shown by their positions in FIG. 6) to steer the vehicle in a right direction. Obviously, movement of the cross brace 40 in a direction opposite that of arrow A will steer the vehicle in a left direction. A coil spring 48 is connected at its opposite ends to a pair of brackets 50 mounted on top of the yoke members 44 rigidly with the steering wheels 22a, 22b. This spring resists separation of the brackets during steering by pivotal movement of cross brace 40 and thus tends to urge the steering wheels to a neutral or straight forwardly moving direction. For steering purposes described below, the cross brace 40 has a rearwardly facing dihedral surface having right and left forwardly diverging surface portions 52a and 52b, respectively.

In order to steer the vehicle, the motor 32 comprises a mass which is slidably mounted on top of the vehicle body or frame 20 for fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body in the direction of arrows B (FIG. 1 A pair of side electrical contacts 56 protrude from the sides of the housing for the motor 32 for engagement with upstanding flanges 58 of conductive collector brackets (described hereinafter) to provide current to the motor. The motor is held down on the vehicle body by means of a guide clip 60 having tongues 60a received in slots 61 on the vehicle frame 20. The top of the clip is spaced from the top of the motor housing and has two cut out spring portions 60b resiliently engaging the top of the motor housing. The front of the motor 32 is provided with a projection 62 which has a forwardly facing dihedral surface having rearwardly diverging right and left surface portions 64a and 64b, respectively.

Thus, it will be apparent that on forward movement of the motor 32 on and relative to the vehicle body 20, the motor will operate the biasing means 34 by engagement of one of the dihedral surface portions 64a, 64b on the front of the motor with one of the dihedral surface portions 52a, 52b on the cross brace member 40 of the steering biasing means 34.

In order to determine which of the two dihedral surface portions 52a, 52b of the cross brace 40 will be engaged by a particular one of the right and left fixed dihedral surface portions 64a, 64b of the motor, shifting means must be provided to shift the apex of the dihedral surface on the cross brace 40 right or left of the vehicle. In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, and with particular reference to FIGS. 9 and 12, this shifting means comprises lane bordering side walls 66 along the outer edges of the outermost lanes of the tracks (described in greater detail hereinafter) and engageable with the steering wheel on the respective adjacent side of the vehicle. This engagement urges the steering wheel slightly inwardly sufficiently to insure that the particular dihedral surface portions 52a, 52b

which will initially engage the corresponding dihedral surface portion on the motor will engage in such a manner as to steer the vehicle toward, andonly toward, the opposite lane. This inwardly movement of the steering wheel is afforded by the aforesaid mounting onto the lower cross member 46 which is mounted for transverse sliding movement on the vehicle frame 20. More particularly, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that the left hand steering wheel 22b is in engagement with the lefthand side wall 66 of the track, as the vehicle would be moving to the left in the drawing. A front bumper portion 68 of the vehicle body as well as the sides of the central portion of the vehicle body comprise abutment means to limit the inward movement of the steering wheel relative to the body under the urging of the side wall 66. Actually, the principal contact between the vehicle'and the track side walls 66 is by the vehicle body, whether it be the frame 20, or the cosmetic body of the vehicle, and the adjacent steering wheel can move slightly into and out of engagement with the wall.

As seen in FIG. 1, the steering wheel is moved inwardly sufficiently to move the apex of the dihedral surface on the cross brace 40 to the right so that the right hand dihedral surface portion 64a of the motor will engage the left hand dihedral surface portion 52b of the cross brace 40. Such engagement is shown in FIG. 6, with the motor shown in its forwardmost position urging the cross brace 40 to the right of the vehicle to bias the steering wheels 22a, 22b in the direction shown so as to steer the vehicle to the rightmost lane from the leftmost lane. As the vehicle leaves the leftmost lane, electrical contact (described hereinafter) is broken between the vehicle and the current conductive lane and the vehicle moves to the rightmost lane under its own inertia. In the rightmost lane, the vehicle again picks up power and proceeds forwardly.

In order to positively move the motor 32 forwardly to steer the vehicle out of the lane in which it is travelling and move the vehicle to the opposite lane, the current simply is broken to the propulsion motor whereby the mass of the motor can be moved forwardly under momentum of the vehicle while the vehicle is tending to move forwardly. With the motor being in mesh with the rear wheels 26 by means of the gear train 30 (comprising worm gear 36 and pinion gear 38) the motor is forced forwardly, through the gear train, due to the momentum of the vehicle when the current to the motor is broken. Actually, the rear wheels become the driving force to push the motor forwardly. However, it should be understood that the invention contemplates the utilization of a free mass having the aforesaid engaging surfaces thereon and slidably or movably mounted on the vehicle for movement relative thereto under its own momentum as the vehicle is slowed during movement to effectively steer or otherwise control the vehicle.

In order to hold a vehicle sufficiently close to the side walls 66 of the track to insure that the steering wheels are urged inwardly to preposition the dihedral surface portions on the cross brace 40, means are provided directly on the track as shown in FIG. 9. More particularly, relatively shallow grooves 70 generally of the width of the driving wheels 26 are provided adjacent the upstanding side walls 66 of the track. These grooves receive the adjacent side wheels of the vehicle and serve to hold the vehicle closely to the lane bordering side wall along the outer edge of the respective lane of the track. However, the grooves are sufficiently shallow (e.g., in the order of one thirty-second of an inch) as not to interfere with movement of the vehicle out of a particular lane toward the opposite lane. The center track embodiment shown in FIG. 9 eliminates the grooves and cants the side-by-side lanes of the track from a central crest 72 downwardly toward the side walls 66 whereby the vehicle sort of leans against the side wall to urge the adjacent steering wheels inwardly. It should be pointed out that the incline of the lanes is shown'in FIG. 9 exaggerated. Actually, there is a leaning effect in the other two embodiments of FIG. 9 due to the height differential provided by grooves 70.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 8 show current collectors, generally designated 74, mounted on the underside of the vehicle in two of three possible positions. Each current collector has an upstanding bridge portion 76 which receives forwardly protruding tab portions 78 behind the front bumper 68 of the vehicle 'to properly position the collectors under the vehicle. The bridge 76 has a vertically elongated slot 80 to permit the collectors to move vertically relative to the underside of the vehicle so as not to interfere with the smooth operation of the vehicle should the tracks become somewhat uneven. The collectors are urged downwardly by coil springs 82 sandwiched between a rearwardly protruding arm portion 84 of each collector and the underside of the vehicle body. Rear lip portions 86 of the collectors are received in slots 88 (FIG. 2) in conductive brackets 90 mounted on the underside of the vehicle body 20. The collectors should be fabricated of sufficiently yieldable material to permit their removal and repositioning on the underside of the vehicle so that any one vehicle may be adapted to collect current for its respective propulsion motor 32 from different pairs of contacts on the tracks, as described hereinafter. The collectors are conductively connected to the motor 32 by means of the conductive brackets 90 which are part of the conductive flanges 58 which are in sliding contact with motor terminal contacts 56.

Referring to FIG. 12, a cross section of a preferred embodiment of a track or roadbed for the vehicles of the present invention is shown and corresponds to the upper track shown in FIG. 9. The side walls 66 and grooves 70 are shown. The grooves 70 preferably are polished to provide lesser traction for the wheels adjacent the track wall 66 than the wheels in the center of the track. As is apparent, each track comprises a roadbed for the vehicle having side-by-side right and left current conductive lanes, generally designated 92 and 94, respectively. Except for the shallow grooves 70 the roadbed provides a substantially flush tread surface permitting the vehicles to transfer freely from one lane to the other. The center of the roadbed is provided with a roughened strip 96 lengthwise therealong, the strip being fabricated of roughened material to provide better traction for the center wheels than the 'outer wheels. This traction differential further facilitates holding the vehicle against the track wall to preposition the steering mechanism. The roughened portion of the track may be molded directly in the track or etching or emery material, or the like, may be utilized. Each lane has a plurality of contacts 98 embedded in the track for contacting the current collectors 74 to provide current from a source thereof through the contacts 98 and the current collectors to the electrically operated propulsion motors 32. The track shown in FIG. 12 has six contact strips, three for each lane, two different pairs of each set of three contacts providing independent operation for a pair of vehicles, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

FIGS. and l I show circuitry for a six contact track having two three-contact lanes side by side along the track. The power supply comprises a single secondary transformer 100 (FIG. 10) terminating in a full wave bridge rectifier 102 with a capacitor filter 104. This circuit shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 has the advantages of identical hand controllers, generally designated by blocks 104a and 104!) comprising controller A and controller B, respectively, for identical vehicles, blocks 106a and l06b representing car A and car B, respectively. The only difference is in that the cars have differently disposed current collectors 74 to permit the vehicles to independently change lanes at will and/or race in the same lane. Removability and repositioning of the collectors 74 permit identical vehicles to be made into an A car or a B car. Car A and its respective controller A are part of the output load of the circuit and car B and its respective controller B essentially are in parallel with car A to complete the output circuit. As seen in FIG. 10, each controller has a switch 108 and a rheostat 109. Controller A for car A leads to contacts 1 and 3 of the left hand and right hand lanes, respectively, and controller B" for car B leads to contacts 2 and 4 of the lefthand and right hand lanes, respectively, of the track. Thus, car A is powered, through current collectors 74 positioned to collect current from either of contacts 1 or 3 and the common contact 0 at the right in each lane. Car B is powered by either contacts 2 or 4 and the common contact c in the lanes. This condition is shown best in FIG. 11 where line 110 leads from controller A and line 112 leads from controller B.

Steering of the vehicles is accomplished by either participant merely by instantly interrupting the power to the propulsion motor of his respective vehicle whereby the motor is forced forwardly to engage the steering wheel biasing means 34 to steer the vehicle toward the opposite lane. The momentum of the vehicle causes it to be carried over the center roughened portion 96 of the track and the car regains power in the opposite lane whereby the worm gear pulls the motor rearwardly away from the steering wheel biasing means 34'. Lane changing does require some minimum degree of speed in order to accomplish steering. With sufficient practice and a degree of manual dexterity, operators of the vehicles learn to effectively steer the vehicles smoothly from one lane to another while increasing and decreasing the speeds of the vehicle.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show circuitry for providing current through a four-contact two lane track, two contacts for each lane and both contacts being common to either of the vehicles. The track is schematically shown by the lower embodiment in FIG. 9. Here again, a single secondary transformer 114 is utilized, but different polarities are associated with the two controllers A and B for cars A and B, respectively, as shown by diodes 115. The controllers and cars form parallel loads on the power supply. However, these outputs are of both plus and minus polarities simultaneously with respect to the common contacts in the lanes of the track. Because of the presence of both polarities on the hot contact 116 of both lanes, each car must be wired to accept only one polarity while rejecting the other in order that they may be controlled independently. This requires that a blocking diode 118 (FIG. 14) be provided in the circuit of each car and that the worm gears of the vehicle be of opposite righthand and lefthand threads. In addition, since the principle of the circuitry in FIGS. 13 and 14 is based on simultaneous plus and minus half wave rectification, a smoothing capacitor 120 must also be provided in the circuitry of each vehicle to provide sufiicient torque for the propulsion motor 32 and to reduce the problem of motor pulsations causing heating. Each controller for the vehicle is provided with a switch 122 and a rheostat 124 and with the opposite diodes as shown in FIG. 13, the diodes providing the opposite polarity described above.

As stated above, the invention not only contemplates the utilization of the propulsion motors 32 as the movable mass for steering the vehicle, but also contemplates a freely movable mass mounted for movement solely as a result of momentum provided by reduction in the speed of the motor. Thus, a complete cessation of power to the vehicle need not be necessary since a free mass could move forwardly of the vehicle merely by slowing the vehicle. In addition, the novel movable motor of the present invention may be utilized to control operating characteristics of the vehicle other than the steering of the vehicle.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A toy combination for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel tumable about a generally vertical axis for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle, biasing means to urge said steering wheel toward a predetermined position to move the vehicle in a predetermined direction, at least one surface engaging driving wheel on said body, an electrical current responsive propulsion motor on said body for operating said driving wheel, a roadbed travelled by said vehicles and having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting said vehicles to transfer freely from one lane to another, current collectors on said vehicles operatively connected to the respective propulsion motors and in conductive contact with at least a portion of either of said lanes, the improvement comprising steering actuating means operatively associated with said biasing means and including a mass mounted for fore and aft movement on and relative to the vehicle to operate said biasing means on forward movement of the mass relative to the vehicle body when the vehicle is slowed whereby said steering wheel may be turned solely by reducing the current to said propulsion motor through said current conductive lanes and said vehicle current collectors.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mass includes said propulsion motor slidably mounted on and for limited fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said propulsion motor is operatively connected to said driving wheel by a gear train whereby said propulsion motor is forced forwardly, through said gear train, due to the momenturn of the vehicle when the current to the propulsion motor is broken.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said gear train includes a pinion gear mounted for rotation with the driving wheel about a transverse axis, and a worm gear in mesh with said pinion gear and connected to the motor for rotation thereby about a fore and aft axis.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said steering actuating means includes said propulsion motor and engaging surface means connected to and movable with the motor, and said biasing means includes complementary engaging surface means whereby said steering wheel is turned in response to forward movement of the motor relative to the vehicle body through engagement of the surface means on the motor and on the biasing means.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said steering actuating means includes forwardly facing engaging surface means on said mass and extending oblique to the forward direction of movement of the vehicle, and said steering wheel biasing means includes complementary rearwardly facing engaging surface means extending oblique to the forward direction of movement of the vehicle and engageable by the surface means on said mass on forward movement of the mass relative to the vehicle to urge the biasing means at least partially transversely to the vehicle to turn the steering wheel.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the surface means on said mass is a forwardly facing dihedral surface having rearwardly diverging surface portions and the surface means on said biasing means is a rearwardly facing dihedral surface having forwardly diverging surface portions, and including means to shift the surface means on one of said mass and said biasing means to permit engagement of either diverging surface portion of each dihedral surface with that of the other and thereby provide for steering the vehicle in either transverse direction.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said biasing means is operatively connected to a pair of steering wheels one on each side of the vehicle and said shifting means comprises lane bordering side wall meansalong the outer edges of the outermost lanes and .engageable with the steering wheel on the respective adjacent side of the vehicle to urge the steering wheel inwardly sufficiently to insure that the dihedral surfaces will initially engage in such a manner as to steer the vehicle toward the opposite lane.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said track is inclined downwardly toward each of said side wall means to facilitate holding the vehicle against the wall means when travelling therealong.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said track has a relatively shallow groove within which one of said driving wheels travels to facilitate holding the vehicle against the wall means when travelling therealong.

11. The invention of claim 8 wherein the portion of the track along said wall means which is travelled by the outermost driving wheel provides for less traction than the portion of the track which is travelled by the innermost driving wheel to facilitate holding the vehicle against the wall means when travelling therealong.

12. The invention of claim 8 wherein a portion of the vehicle body comprises abutment means to limit the inward movement of a steering wheel relative to the body under the urging of said side wall means.

13. The invention of claim 1 including means for permitting turning of said steering wheel only toward the opposite current conductive lane.

14. The invention of claim 1 including circuit means connected to a source of current and to said current conductive lanes and having circuit components operatively associated with said current conductive lanes and said vehicle current collectors so as to permit operators of a pair of vehicles to control the amount of current to the propulsion motor of a respective vehicle independently of the control of current to the motor of the other vehicle.

15. A toy combination for operating miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel, at least one surface engaging driving wheel, and a propulsion motor for operating said driving wheel, remote control means operatively associated with each of said vehicles to remotely control the speed of the propulsion motor, steering actuating means movably mounted on thevehicle body and operatively associated with the steering wheel and including-a mass movable fore and aft of the vehicle, biasing means operatively associated with the steering wheel to urge the steering wheel toward a predetermined position to move the vehicle in a predetermined direction, and complementary engaging surface means on said mass and on said biasing means to move said biasing means and thus said steering wheel in response to forward movement of the mass relative to the vehicle body when the vehicle isslowed whereby the steering wheel may be turned solely by slowing the vehicle and permitting the mass to move forwardly under its own momentum relative to the vehicle body.

.16. The invention of claim 12 wherein said mass includes said propulsion motor slidably mounted on and for limited fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body.

17. The invention of claim 14 wherein said gear train includes a pinion gear mounted for rotation with the driving wheel about a transverse axis, and a worm gear in mesh with said pinion gear and connected to the motor for rotation thereby about a fore and aft axis.

18. The invention of claim 13 wherein said propulsion motor is operatively connected to said driving wheel by a gear train whereby said propulsion motor is forced forwardly, through said gear train, due to the momentum of the vehicle when the current to the propulsion motor is broken.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said propulsion motor is operatively connected to said driving wheel by a gear train whereby said propulsion motor is forced forwardly, through said gear train, due to the momentum of the vehicle when the vehicle is slowed.

20. A miniature vehicle, or the like, which has a body provided with at least one surface engaging driving wheel and a propulsion motor for operating said driving wheel, control means on said vehicle for controlling an operating characteristic of the vehicle, means mounting said motor on and for limited fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body, and means operatively associated with the motor and said control means whereby the control means is actuated automatically in response to forward movement of the propulsion motor.

21. In a toy combination for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel, at least one surface engaging drive wheel, and a propulsion motor for operating said driving wheel, a roadbed traveled by said vehicles having side-by-side lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting said vehicles to transfer from one lane to another, and steering means for guiding the direction of movement of each vehicle from one lane to another, the improvement comprising control means for operating a vehicle so as to normally travel along said roadbed in either of said side-by-side lanes, including steering control means associated with said steering means providing for steering of the vehicle only in the direction of the opposite lane while traveling in either one of said lanes.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein said roadbed has upstanding curbing extending therealong on opposite sides thereof, and whereby said steering control means is operatively associated with said curbing to sense on which side of the vehicle the adjacent curbing is disposed, which, in turn, senses the particular lane in which the vehicle is traveling, for steering the vehicle only in the direction of the opposite lane.

23. The invention of claim 22 wherein said steering control means is conditioned by the adjacent curbing on either side of the vehicle so as to steer the vehicle from either lane only in the direction of the opposite lane when the steering control means is actuated. 

1. A toy combination for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one suRface engaging steering wheel turnable about a generally vertical axis for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle, biasing means to urge said steering wheel toward a predetermined position to move the vehicle in a predetermined direction, at least one surface engaging driving wheel on said body, an electrical current responsive propulsion motor on said body for operating said driving wheel, a roadbed travelled by said vehicles and having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting said vehicles to transfer freely from one lane to another, current collectors on said vehicles operatively connected to the respective propulsion motors and in conductive contact with at least a portion of either of said lanes, the improvement comprising steering actuating means operatively associated with said biasing means and including a mass mounted for fore and aft movement on and relative to the vehicle to operate said biasing means on forward movement of the mass relative to the vehicle body when the vehicle is slowed whereby said steering wheel may be turned solely by reducing the current to said propulsion motor through said current conductive lanes and said vehicle current collectors.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mass includes said propulsion motor slidably mounted on and for limited fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said propulsion motor is operatively connected to said driving wheel by a gear train whereby said propulsion motor is forced forwardly, through said gear train, due to the momentum of the vehicle when the current to the propulsion motor is broken.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said gear train includes a pinion gear mounted for rotation with the driving wheel about a transverse axis, and a worm gear in mesh with said pinion gear and connected to the motor for rotation thereby about a fore and aft axis.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said steering actuating means includes said propulsion motor and engaging surface means connected to and movable with the motor, and said biasing means includes complementary engaging surface means whereby said steering wheel is turned in response to forward movement of the motor relative to the vehicle body through engagement of the surface means on the motor and on the biasing means.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said steering actuating means includes forwardly facing engaging surface means on said mass and extending oblique to the forward direction of movement of the vehicle, and said steering wheel biasing means includes complementary rearwardly facing engaging surface means extending oblique to the forward direction of movement of the vehicle and engageable by the surface means on said mass on forward movement of the mass relative to the vehicle to urge the biasing means at least partially transversely to the vehicle to turn the steering wheel.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the surface means on said mass is a forwardly facing dihedral surface having rearwardly diverging surface portions and the surface means on said biasing means is a rearwardly facing dihedral surface having forwardly diverging surface portions, and including means to shift the surface means on one of said mass and said biasing means to permit engagement of either diverging surface portion of each dihedral surface with that of the other and thereby provide for steering the vehicle in either transverse direction.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said biasing means is operatively connected to a pair of steering wheels one on each side of the vehicle and said shifting means comprises lane bordering side wall means along the outer edges of the outermost lanes and engageable with the steering wheel on the respective adjacent side of the vehicle to urge the steering wheel inwardly sufficiently to insure that the dihedral surfaces will initially engage in such a manner as to steer the vehicle toward the opposite lane.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said track is inclined downwardly toward each of said side wall means to facilitate holding the vehicle against the wall means when travelling therealong.
 10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said track has a relatively shallow groove within which one of said driving wheels travels to facilitate holding the vehicle against the wall means when travelling therealong.
 11. The invention of claim 8 wherein the portion of the track along said wall means which is travelled by the outermost driving wheel provides for less traction than the portion of the track which is travelled by the innermost driving wheel to facilitate holding the vehicle against the wall means when travelling therealong.
 12. The invention of claim 8 wherein a portion of the vehicle body comprises abutment means to limit the inward movement of a steering wheel relative to the body under the urging of said side wall means.
 13. The invention of claim 1 including means for permitting turning of said steering wheel only toward the opposite current conductive lane.
 14. The invention of claim 1 including circuit means connected to a source of current and to said current conductive lanes and having circuit components operatively associated with said current conductive lanes and said vehicle current collectors so as to permit operators of a pair of vehicles to control the amount of current to the propulsion motor of a respective vehicle independently of the control of current to the motor of the other vehicle.
 15. A toy combination for operating miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel, at least one surface engaging driving wheel, and a propulsion motor for operating said driving wheel, remote control means operatively associated with each of said vehicles to remotely control the speed of the propulsion motor, steering actuating means movably mounted on the vehicle body and operatively associated with the steering wheel and including a mass movable fore and aft of the vehicle, biasing means operatively associated with the steering wheel to urge the steering wheel toward a predetermined position to move the vehicle in a predetermined direction, and complementary engaging surface means on said mass and on said biasing means to move said biasing means and thus said steering wheel in response to forward movement of the mass relative to the vehicle body when the vehicle is slowed whereby the steering wheel may be turned solely by slowing the vehicle and permitting the mass to move forwardly under its own momentum relative to the vehicle body.
 16. The invention of claim 12 wherein said mass includes said propulsion motor slidably mounted on and for limited fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body.
 17. The invention of claim 14 wherein said gear train includes a pinion gear mounted for rotation with the driving wheel about a transverse axis, and a worm gear in mesh with said pinion gear and connected to the motor for rotation thereby about a fore and aft axis.
 18. The invention of claim 13 wherein said propulsion motor is operatively connected to said driving wheel by a gear train whereby said propulsion motor is forced forwardly, through said gear train, due to the momentum of the vehicle when the current to the propulsion motor is broken.
 19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said propulsion motor is operatively connected to said driving wheel by a gear train whereby said propulsion motor is forced forwardly, through said gear train, due to the momentum of the vehicle when the vehicle is slowed.
 20. A miniature vehicle, or the like, which has a body provided with at least one surface engaging driving wheel and a propulsion motor for operating said driving wheel, control means on said vehicle for controlling an operating characteristic Of the vehicle, means mounting said motor on and for limited fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body, and means operatively associated with the motor and said control means whereby the control means is actuated automatically in response to forward movement of the propulsion motor.
 21. In a toy combination for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel, at least one surface engaging drive wheel, and a propulsion motor for operating said driving wheel, a roadbed traveled by said vehicles having side-by-side lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting said vehicles to transfer from one lane to another, and steering means for guiding the direction of movement of each vehicle from one lane to another, the improvement comprising control means for operating a vehicle so as to normally travel along said roadbed in either of said side-by-side lanes, including steering control means associated with said steering means providing for steering of the vehicle only in the direction of the opposite lane while traveling in either one of said lanes.
 22. The invention of claim 21 wherein said roadbed has upstanding curbing extending therealong on opposite sides thereof, and whereby said steering control means is operatively associated with said curbing to sense on which side of the vehicle the adjacent curbing is disposed, which, in turn, senses the particular lane in which the vehicle is traveling, for steering the vehicle only in the direction of the opposite lane.
 23. The invention of claim 22 wherein said steering control means is conditioned by the adjacent curbing on either side of the vehicle so as to steer the vehicle from either lane only in the direction of the opposite lane when the steering control means is actuated. 